Advance Information

 Publication: January 1999; ISBN 1 85433 284 8, £12.95; BPS member £11.65; 160pp;229 x 145mm

Adolescence is a period of rapid growth, when physiological and psychological changes can affect emotions, moods, self-image and social and family relationships. In addition to these, British-born Asian adolescents also have to face other problems -those of growing up in two distinctive cultural traditions and value systems, which may come into conflict over issues such as the role of women in society,and adherence to religious and cultural traditions. The conflicting demands made by home and school on behaviour, loyalties and obligations can be a source of psychological conflict and tension in Asian youngsters. There are also the issues of racial prejudice and discrimination to deal with, in education and employment. All these issues are examined in this book, and illustrated with quotes from the actual experiences of adolescents, parents, and teachers, living and coping with the demands of two cultures.

The positive aspects of bi-culturalism and bilingualism, which can be real advantages in a society whose institutions tolerate and promote cultural diversity, are also looked at. Indeed, encounters between cultures have historically often brought benefits in the form of new ways of thinking, expression, and in the arts. However, all too often the conflicts can seem to outweigh the advantages. It would be of enormous benefit to all those who work with Asian young people (Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi or Chinese), whether teachers, social workers, or educational psychologists, to understand the potential psychological difficulties withinthe broader socio-cultural and historical context.

Building on the previous work of the author, and on that of other researchers in this area, this book looks at inter-ethnic relations, racial prejudice, gender equality, the development of ethnic identity, bilingualism, the practice of home religion, and scholastic achievement and adjustment, to provide an up-to-date picture of the situation of South Asian and Chinese adolescents living in the UK today. These issues will also be relevant to other Western countries, such as the US, Canada,and Australia. The Aberystwyth Biculturalism Scale is included as an appendix.

Reviews

Written from a psychological perspective, Asian Adolescents in the West will be of interest not only to those working within that discipline, but would be useful reading for teachers, headteachers and governors of schools and members of the caring professions generally, who will gain much from Ghuman's lucid exposition of the problems faced by Britain's South Asian and Chinese young people. Adolescence has long been recognised as a difficult time, even for those growing up in a monocultural society; Ghuman carefully charts the additional difficulties faced by youngsters in each minority group and indicates the strategies adopted by them in their efforts to maintain their ethnic identities and come to terms with growing up in a Western European society.

The issues he deals with have, for the last decade, been submerged by other concerns. Researchers have concentrated on the effects of the Education Reform Act, the National Curriculum, testing, the efficiency of schools as demonstrated by their examination results. This timely book should remind us all that these children and young people have their own pressing problems to which they are seeking - and in many cases beginning - to find the answers.

Professor Gajendar Verma, University of Manchester, Sarah Fielding Chair in Education

This book represents another major contribution by Paul Ghuman to understanding the psychology of adolescents brought up between two cultures. In his usual lucid and pointed style Ghuman analyses both the negative and positive (emphasis) aspects of bi-cultural socialisation across the range of domains which are central to the experiences of this age group. This book, which is both scholarly and interesting, is destined to become the definitive to become the definitive work on this important topic.

Professor Ray Cochrane, Department of Psychology, University of Birmingham

Readership: teachers, educationaland counselling psychologists, social workers, researchers. Undergraduates on teacher training courses, and psychology students on modules on ethnic minorities will also find the book of interest.

The author: ProfessorPaul AS. Ghuman , Ph.D, D.Litt, C Psychol, FBPsS is Professor of Education at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, Wales. He has been a teacher and currently lectures, having introduced the first multicultural option in Honours degree education in the UK. He has carried out research in this topic area for many years, including in Australia and Canada, and is the author of several publications in this field.